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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: arm · safe · rest · stick · bear · rash · bore · pitcher

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. rash — a series
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. rest — what's left
  10. bore — to tire
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. bore — to drill
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. rest — what's left
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. rash — hasty
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. rest — a break
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — the animal
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bear — to put up with

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com